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10/30/2012 @ 2:16AM20,336 views

Q and A: Thaksin Sits Down With Forbes

Well I am behind the party for policies, yes, because during that time Yingluck hadn’t come into the scenes yet. We talk to each other and she has got very good experiences at management. When she was 35 year old she became CEO of AIS, the biggest mobile phone operator in Thailand. At that time, we had 40 million subscribers and 22,000 employees under her so she has very good experience and on financing she is very good too. So when we think something, we consult each other. Sometimes she said, no this is maybe overspending, may not good. She has instinct because of her experience.

Q. Are there policies that you’d like to move along faster?

One thing that we really wanted to do and we promised to do for the people and we’ve been blocked, not allowed to do, is the constitutional amendment. This constitution is a product from the coup de tat. You understand immediately that it’s not really for democracy. And if Thailand is still like this, we cannot move fast. Because it’s like you have a house full of land mine. Before you walk out of the door to work, you have to be careful because it can set off the mine anytime. And when you come back before you go to bed you have to be very careful. That’s the situation in Thailand.

Q. Because the party could be ruled illegal, for example?

Yes, yes. They don’t want you to be there, they can kick you out easily, regardless of the people’s power. They don’t respect the people that much. This constitution does not respect the people power.

Q. In order to get constitution amendment, don’t you need the blessings of the palace?

No, the palace is above politics. But because the constitution is there, because of so many independent agencies can be hand picked the coup de tat at that time, they can shift from military coup de tat, which is unacceptable under international standards, to [civilian]. This is even more complicated, and the whole world doesn’t understand. The whole world thinks, oh, this is [proper] jurisdiction, we have to respect. But this is really a really jurisdiction of coup de tat. So we need to amend it.

We are trying to walk through the land mine, and if we can walk through the land mine, we should amend it. We wanted to do it before the election because we promised. If we go to work, we’ll step in the land mine, boom! And the people will understand.

Q. Do you see a opportunities of compromise between the parties?

That’s what we want to see, but I don’t know. If there’s justice in Thailand, then everything will come, that’s normal. Some parties still think they still get backup, they can still benefit from this constitution, so they’ve got more advantages. But that is giving some kind of privilege so they don’t care to be equal. Like football. You don’t want to be in the tournament, if you get to be the champion regardless. But if you had to work hard, if you have to follow the international standard, the rules, then you have to compete before you get the championship.

Q. You mentioned that the palace is above the politics. Do you speak to anyone there?

No, no… the palace is always above politics. When I become a politician, I should not involved with the palace. I should pay respect, and be involved only with politicians.

Q. On sport, this is a passion of yours? What would be your future involvement in this be?

Only Manchester City got my heart. I’ve been offered many things but I decided not to. Because I am still way attached to Manchester City?

Q. Why did you sell it at the time?

I didn’t have money at the time. If I had not been bullied politically…they took my assets, they took part of my money, which is unfair, and I am still being treated unfairly and I still fight for it. You know to me, I can spend billions, I don’t care, if it was to be fair treatment. This is really unfair. It’s unfair. The law can’t give principle of law to the students, because what they practiced there is outrageous. Even there is no law, they write their own law, to their own wordings.

Q. Because you wanted to help to the farmers?

You know my belief might be different from some people, many conservatives. I may spend my time aboard and I feel like [we] have very few poor countries, and our country, we are very pheu Thai and we are so poor. That’s what I think, and I think why can’t I help people to get out of poverty. And it’s my commitment not just politics, This is what I have to do. And I did it. And many people said no no no…. I don’t know… If I was to go back, I would still help the poor to be stronger, because I believe that when people get out of poverty, the whole country prospers. And when the whole country prospers, the elite that sit in the top will be benefit even more! But they don’t understand. They want to maintain the status quo.

Q. You know Bill Clinton? Do you plan to work in the Clinton Global Initiative with him?

Yes ( I know him); I don’t know. He might think that oh I am in exile and might not… Actually he’s the one that introduced one Peruvian guy to me; Hernando De Soto… who wrote the book about capitalist economy [and empowering the poor with basic collateral]. I invited him to Thailand, met a lot of thinkers there. And adopted some of his policies.

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If Forbes is a professional, why don’t you ask Thaksin’s opponents why they hate him so much? Thaksin is just a cold-blooded opportunist. He would manipulate the poor people into thinking that they are oppressed by the rich. While in some cases (like the rice mill owners) might be true, but it is far from the truth in general terms. Don’t take anybody words for it, but one should judge him for his past action to determine whether or not he is a really good man. For example, the law stated that the politicians must not hold any shares in a private company. If they have any shares, they must sell them off so that they could not abuse their authority. What Taksin did was to transfer his shares in his companies to his drivers, maids, and gardeners. When he hot caught, he claimed that it was an “honest mistake”. Do you believe that a person with Ph.D in criminology would make such mistake by accidents? There are many more cases that he think other people are too stupid to spot them. Those people who understand his ill intent are the ones that hate him. This doesn’t include the fact that he was the mastermind behind the unrest in Thailand a couple of years ago where his zombies turn up at the business district in Bangkok and torched the city. All of these just because he wanted his cronies to become the government a pass a law to acquit him of all crimes he committed. Do your homework, Forbes!!! This is NOT a democracy problem. It is only simply a damned rich crook who got busted, but doesn’t want to pay for his crime. Nothing more.

Exactly. I am tired of people outside Thailand listening to this ‘big man’ and believe everything he says..What THAI says is absolutely correct. I lived in Thailand for years and can support everything he/she says.. And NationMultimedia as well as Bangkok Post are excellent publications that reported all this at the time… Khun Taksin is simply a trouble maker.

While what you spoke holds true,but it’s partial This is NOT a democracy problem? No,you’re wrong.It always is a ‘democratic’ issues in thailand Did you forget 2006 coup?,I don’t want to sound rude or offensive but your blame on Thaksin is so stereotypical and ,frankly,quite naive Thai elite ,themselves,are the true mastermind behind of this political mess for 4-6 years

Thaksin would play his crowd-rallying game ,till those ‘elite’ in thai stop playing their game.That’s all i can say

For 6 whole years this sick man has kept repeating the same excuses; “My opponents are jealous of me. All of these happening because I am popular among poor people..blah blah blah…”. If he was THAT GOOD why he created so many enemies from all walk of life to the point that he had to keep self-exile (aka. fleeing from jail time).

This sick old man is nothing but a pathological liar. A narcissistic sadist. A traitor of his own motherland. A murderer who manipulated Thai people to die for him.

And above all, a pure evil, much more evil than Hitler, because though Hitler killed Jews which is a huge crime against humanity BUT HE NEVER DESTROYED HIS OWN COUNTRY FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT.

I’m sure someday when his crime is out open to the whole world, the world history will count him as one of the most sadistic/tyrannical leader in the history.

Thailand allows you to come and go. Actually we want you to come back to serve jail time. But you decided to live abroad because you don’t want to go to jail from the corruption you have done in the past.

You are also behind the fire of Bangkok last year. You told red shirt people to die for you, but what have you done for them? CORRUPTION?

Your sister is an idiot. Beside her poor intelligence to read, she manage the country so badly that we had flood last year and we will have a drought next year. And now she is the world’s most stupid PM.

Everytime there is a conflict, you just mention you have majority vote, but never mention about the righteousness of you you do.

Forbes, pity your interviewer didn’t ask more probing questions, Thaksin is one of Asia’s most controversial politicians, and an international fugitive from very real criminal corruption charges which would have stuck in any serious country, they are not merely politically motivated and allowing him a mouthpiece like this to sell his half truths is naive. He claims to be helping the poor but talks alot about all the billions he has to invest and is busy manipulating the world rice price at the expense of the hungry. There’s a good reason why the two English language newspapers (and many Thai ones) are so negatively suspicious of this man, they are intelligent enough to see through is lies and deceit, yet he seems to think that Forbes readers are all simple Thai farmers who are satisfied with handouts, a puppet sibling prime minister and his disingenuous remarks read here. Ask him about the half dozen serious charges against him pending his return to Thailand and why he is so keen to amend the constitution to effect a whitewash of his sins, that’s the reason he’s in exile, running around doing business with some of Africa’s most reprehensible dictators.

Thaksin is not only a controversial figure, he is an escaped convict with mountain of dirty money awaits laundering. If I were him I won’t hesitate to spend some on housekeeping job to clean his name, so I am not surprise at all to read something like this from time to time on international magazines. Until today you’ll see him still traveling to every oh-so-famous money laundering countries, buy Euro passports, be friend with big guys everywhere and keep commissioning people to blackmail his own country. I for one don’t need a friend like this, do you?

I must say that I am disappointed in this article, which tries to give Khun Taksin some legitimacy in the affairs of Thailand. He is a convicted criminal who has a 2 year jail sentence waiting for him once he lands back in his home country… We who have lived in Thailand and love it, know well how this man continues to play the ‘big man’ phoning in to rallies, popping in to neighbour countries, stirring up trouble. His selfishness knows no bounds. …..And I find the news from Nation and Bangkok Post to be wonderful…They’ve got his number.

Is there any way to have a dialogged with the Law Minster and with the opposite party . and come to a conclusion.. at last , compromise all side.. and do give him benefit of dought to him & is TEAM..as he says he care & feel for the Thai people…

He is taking all is “” Billions”" and investing in other countries , theres no benefit to the Thai government & there loyal citizens.

This money should & “MUST ” be invested in THAILAND only and benefit to the Thai citizens..

Even to be humble & kind to all human experiences… the choices we make in our life -time & today, in those movements can & will define ,the “ ” REST OF OUR LIFE”".. to the mankind… life is so short.. pls lets us all work together peacefully& satisfactions to ALL..

I Love Thailand and there lovely and humble folks , and always serve you with beautiful SMILE and good hearted… that makes our life so worthwhile on this EARTH..

You ill be amazed how liberating it can be to air our concerns and some one completely independent & TRUST ..other-side….

I Hope & Pray every thing works out ” PEACEFULLY & AMICABLY ” , and benefit to all mankind..

Me & My Family,s wish you all Thailand the very ” Best for the 2013 “ ..

Enjoy the Beautiful Thailand ….share & guide to the right ” PATH ” & HELP EACH OTHER…Take care …

Pity! A serious magazine like Forbes asked such naive questions and allowed him a monthpiece to spew such nonsense half-truths, without asking more probing questions on the real reason he lives in exile.

Thaksin is a fugitive. He is subject to 2 year-jail sentence for the corruption. There are a number of court cases lining up for him to testify. It is not fair to Thai people that foreign magazines and medias have one sided-interview with this bloke. He masterminds all the corruptions in Thaialnd using nominees. He sold the Thai satellite business concessioned by the government to Singapore. By doing so, he illegitimately amended the law to accommodate him to sell the shares to Singapore.

To the various detractors: yes, the interview could have been more adversarial. Our intent during the time allotted was to get him talking so there would be more of his words than ours. Of course he faces tough scrutiny by all Thais. Yet his sister and party were elected in 2011 to lead the country. How do you explain that?

There are lots of ways to explain the victory of his sister and party in 2011. Thaksin’s popularity was certainly a factor, and that can’t be denied. But there were other factors as well, including a fracturing of the anti-Thaksin coalition, his party’s Santa Claus promises to various groups that are struggling, a deep national split by region in political party loyalties, and rising inflation at the time of the poll, among others.

Thaksin’s popularity, however doesn’t excuse his murderous human violations, clear contempt and breaking of the law, myriad conflicts of interest, and funding of an armed and violent uprising. Getting him talking and the fact that he faces tough scrutiny by some, but certainly not by all Thais, are not good enough excuses for your correspondents acting like lap dogs, Mr. Ferguson.

We expect international media to also place Thaksin under tough scrutiny. In fact, we expect it even more from international media than local media, which in some cases is bought off, and in others faces business retribution if they are critical. Thankfully, some local media are still critical.

Thaksin has had ample opportunities to spout off his half truths and outright lies. If your magzine is doing serious journalism, then it’s your correspondents’ responsibility to challenge him on these, rather than just giving him another platform to propagate them as if they are the truth. Please do a better job for your readers next time around.

Money… Really Mister Ferguson you write for Forbes and run the asia bureau ( or whatever it is called.) You show a remarkeable lack of knowledge on the subject of Thailand…… Yingluck Taksin is a substitute for her brother.. Actually her attaining the PM post indicated the Taksin part of the red movement was getting more prominence.. You should hear the guy cry out on giant screen how sad he is, how he misses Thailand, how he loves everyone… Khun Taksin is his own worst enemy… His popularity while PM and the promise of real help for people won him their support. His ham fisted handling of everything and not following through on what he said coupled with his loud-mouthed boasting upset so many people… He could have had it all if been less greedy and actually fulfilled some of his promises.

One gets the feeling he was just in it all along for himself and himself all along. His loud posturing and whining since leaving the country, his continual popping in to neighbouring countries, his lies and deceits show him for what he is…a spoilt child who’s willing to take down the country for his own selfish needs…

I suggest you look into the writing of Voranai in Bangkok Post to give an even western-thai thinking view of the latest goings on.. I personally read 5 different publications out of Thailand to keep up on the latest developments… Khun Vorania does a good job..